Reinforcing means for radiator tubes



Oct. 7, 1941. F, M, YOUNG 2,258,041

REINFORCING MEANS FOR RADIATOR TUBES Filed Dec. 7, 1938 arraemsy Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATE R-EINFOBOING OFFICE v "Application December 7, 1938, Serial No. 244,367

' 1 Claim. (01. 257-125). V i

tween tubes and varying pressure in the headers often causes fractures of the'tube walls adjacent the edge of the tube plates. Such fractures are also frequently caused by vibration particularly when the radiator is mounted on the engine support. The tube fractures invariably occur in the first or second transverse rows of tubes at each side of the core. Therefore in order to accomplish the desired objects of the present invention, it is necessary only to equip two or three end rows with my invention as illustrated in Figure 1.

A fractured tube in a radiator is a serious matter because fractures are diflicult and frequently impossible to repair. I provide simple and inexpensive means whereby the tubes are strengthened adjacent the tube plates in a manner which entirely prevents fractures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide simple and inexpensive means for sealing the ends of certain tubes before or after they have become fractured.

To these and other useful ends, my invention resides in features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation of a conventional radiator core minus the header caps, some of the tubes being equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the core illustrated in Figure 1, a fraction being sectioned on line 22 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the device shown in Figure 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates in detail a fragment of the preferred form of my device used for reinforcing the tube ends.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device shown in Figure 4, taken on line 55 of this figure.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the device shown in Figure 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top view of a radiator wherein the tubes are positioned at a slight angle to the direction of air flow and equipped with my invention. f

- Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View ofthe tube rein; forcing deviceshown in Figures 6 and 7 and taken on line 88 of Figure 6.

Fig. 9 is a'fragmentary view of a modification of the device illustrated in Figure4.

Asthus'illustrated, in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, reference numeral 12 designates a conventional flat tube used in radiators of the class and numeral {l3 designates the tube plates through which the -'tube ends protrude slightly as illustrated." 1 I 3 A multiplicity of closely spaced fins M are provided through which the tubes extend thus forming a conventional radiator core. The fins are preferably bonded to the tubes and the tubes are secured to the plates preferabls by dip-bond ing after my improved reinforcing devices have been placed into position.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate my reinforcing device which is formed preferably from half round wire into the shape illustrated. The complete organization is designated in its entirety by reference character A comprising a number of loops I6 having alternately connecting members l1. and I8 therebetween.

Connections H are positioned somewhat above the longitudinal plane of members l8. Members [6 are spaced so they fit snugly into the curved edges of the tubes as clearly illustratedin Figure 2 and are pressed into the tubes to a point where members l8 rest on the ends of the tubes thus to facilitate inserting the loops into the tube ends and provide a uniform opening into the ends of the tubes as at l9.

Members A may be made in long pieces and out into suitable lengths. Some radiators have four transverse rows of tubes as illustrated in Figure 2. The number of tubes will vary from two to six or more tubes per row. Therefore, there will be some advantage in forming members A by means of a continuous process and cutthe pieces into the desired lengths.

By scrutinizing the sectioned portion of Figure 2 it will be noticed that members l6 extend a considerable distance into the tube ends and past the inner edge of plates l3 thus providing a solid metal filler for the curved edges of the tubes which, when suitably bonded to the tubes, will form practically a solid mass of metal in the round edges of the tubes.

In some designs, the tubes are positioned at a slight angle to the direction of air fiow as illustrated in Figure 7 in which event the tubes are usually very narrow and the device for strengthening the ends of the tubes is then preferably made from round wire as illustrated in Figures 6 and 8.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 the loops are designated by numeral 25 and the connecting links by numeral 26. In this design, the loops are pressed into the tubes to a point as at 21. However, alternate loops may be positioned as in Figure 4.

It will be understood that the device shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 may also be made from round wire. It is, however, the custom to make these devices from half round wire for tubes of considerable thickness but for tubes that are very thin, round wires are preferable. In either event, the material is preferably brass orthe likeso as to be easily bonded to the tubes.

Referring now to Figure 9. The reinforcing strip illustrated may be exactly like the strip shown in Fjigure 4 except that the strip is severed as at'28 and the strip shifted so members l8 fit into the end of the tubes as illustrated. Thus when the tubes are bonded to the -tube plate, member l8 will bebonded and form a liquid tight seal for the ends of the tubes. This device is not generally used except on tubes. that havebeen fractured which were not originally equipped with my invention. when it is desired to stop a single tube that has begun to leak, then the parts used for the purpose as illustrated'in Figure 9 are made by severing member "at 28 and 28*. Clearly however, a-number of these individual filling members may be used and for that matter,

individual members may be made of the strips illustrated in Figure 4 by severing members l8 as at 29-29 thus, if desired, either form of the invention may be inserted in the tubes individually instead of in strips.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided simple, inexpensive means for strengthening tubes of radiators of the class at the point Where they may become fractured and withou impairing the efficiency of the radiator.

Clearly many minor detail changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the appended claim.

Having thus shown and described my invention, I claim:

A device of the class described, comprising a tube and a tube plate through which the end of saidtube extends, said tube being-flattened in cross section, its narrow edges being formed in half circles, reinforcing members formed integrally from a singlerod being bent into spaced loops having a connecting member, the outer half of said loops adapted to lie within said half circles and being bent outwardly at theirends to thereby form stops adapted to rest on the end of said tube and determine the position of said connecting member relative to the tube end, said loops adapted to extend into said tube a .distance past said tube plate, and said tube plate, tube ends and loops being intimately bonded together. I

FRED M. YOUNG. 

